Wreck-indicating buoy.



No. 801,777. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. W. G. EDGBOOMB. WREGK INDIUATING BUOY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5,1904.

witnesses UNITED sTAa ns OFFICE.

WRECK-INDICATING BUOY- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed February 5, 1904. Serial No. 192,156.

To (ti/ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM Gr. Enonoous, acitizen of the United States, residing at Standish, in the county of Cumberland, State of Maine, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Wreck-Indicating Buoys; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to buoys, and more particularly to buoys for indicating the locations of sunken vessels, it being understood that the buoy may be used for other purposes.

The object of the invention is to provide a buoy which may be carried by a vessel in such position and in such manner that when the vessel sinks, whatever the inclination of the vessel, the buoy will be released and permitted to float upon the surface of the water, the line with which the buoy is connected to the vessel being paid out as the vessel settles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction which may be worn about the person, so that if one falls overboard the body may be located in the same manner as would be a sunken vessel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in both the views, Figure 1 is a view, partially in vertical section and partially in elevation, illustrating one embodiment of my invention particularly designed for use upon vessels. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the buoy and cooperating parts carried by a belt.

Referring now to the drawings, there is employed a holder including a compartment or chamber 5, in which is rotatably mounted a reel 6, having attached thereto at one end a line 7, by means of which the buoy proper is moored. At one side of the compartment 5 is a hanger 8, which extends vertically thereabove and at the opposite side of which are the brackets 9 and 10, which carry a cylin drical holder 11. The buoy includes a cylin drical lower portion 12 and a tapered upper portion 13, between which is formed the circumferential groove 14:, in which is engaged an inflatable ring 15, which serves to increase the buoyancy of the article. The body of the buoy is hollow, and it is provided with a closure 16, thus providing for messages within the buoy. The mooring-line is passed through the slot 18 in the side of the compartment or chamber in which the reel is disposed and is then passed forwardly through the slot or guide 19 in the edge of the hanger and is then attached to the buoy, which is placed with its lower cylindrical end in the holder. At the upper end of the hanger is an eye 20, through which is engaged the ring 21, which is engaged also through the eye 22 at the free end of a bracket 23, which is engaged with the side 24: of the vessel.

W" hen the vessel sinks, the buoy floats from the holder and the mooring-line is drawn from the reel, so that while the vessel may lie on the bottom the buoy will be at the surface of the water. \Vith the specific manner of suspending the buoy-holder the buoy will be in vertical position in whatever position the vessel may be, so that proper floating of the buoy from the holder will be insured. The buoy is weighted at the bottom, as shown at 25, so that as it moves from the holder vertical position will be maintained and its movement will be easy. Also it will retain an upright position when floating.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings the hanger is omitted and the reel 26 is at right angles to the position shown in Fig. 1, the line 27 being passed through a perforation 28 above the brackets carrying the holder and being then attached to the buoy.

The present apparatus may be used not only for indicating the position of the sunken vessel, but if it is attached to a person it will indicatc the location of the person if the person falls overboard or through any other cause sinks to the bottom of a body of water and stays there. The chamber may be attached to the body of the person by means of a belt, such as indicated at 29.

\Vhat is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising a chamber, a reel rotatabl y mounted within the chamber, a line attached to the reel, brackets projecting outwardly from one wall of the chamber, a cylindrical holder carried by the brackets, a buoy removably mounted in the holder and to which the line is attached, and means connected with the chamber for supporting the parts.

2. A device of the class described comprisingachamber, a reel rotatably mounted within the chamber, a line attached to the reel, brack- IIC ets projecting outwardly from one wall of thg chamber, a cylindrical holder carried by the brackets, a buoy removably mounted in the holder and to which the line is attached, and a removable closure in the bottom of the buoy.

3. A device of the class described comprising a chamber having an opening therein, a reel rotatably mounted within the chamber, a line attached to the reel and 7 passed through said opening, brackets projecting outwardly from one wall of the chamber, a cylindrical holder carried. by the brackets, the upper end of the cylinder being open, a removable buoy mounted in the brackets and to which the line is attached, the lower portion of the buoy being hollow, and a removable cover associated with the hollow portion of the buoy.

4:. In a device of the character described, a hanger, a chamber suspended from said hanger and provided with an opening, a reel rotatably mounted within said chamber, a line attached to the reel and passed through said opening, brackets projecting outwardly from one wall of the chamber, a cylindrical holder carried by the brackets and having an open upper end, a buoy removably mounted in the brackets and to which the line is attached, the lower portion of the buoy being hollow, and a removable closure for the hollow portion of the buoy. I

p 5. A device of the class described comprising a buoy-holder, a buoy removably disposed in the holder, a reel-chamber, a reel mounted in the chamber, a line attached to the reel, and to the buoy, a hanger between the holder and chamber, and a bracket from which the hanger is pivotally suspended.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. EDGECOMB.

' Witnesses:

EMMA M. DIMMooK, CHARLES Y. Boo'rHBY. 

